Panel: you must appear on Thurs
I won’t come, says Judge
‘My trial won’t disturb Senate’
Senators may have set the stage for a major
confrontation between them and the Code of Conduct
Tribunal (CCT) over Senate President Bukola Saraki’s
trial for alleged falsification of assets.
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public
Petitions yesterday summoned CCT Chairman Justice
Danladi Umar over allegations of corruption against him.
The invitation, coming on a day Justice Umar said
Saraki’s trial will run daily, appeared a new twist to the
matter.
In a letter signed yesterday by the Clerk of the
Committee, Freedom Odolo,the Senate asked Justice
Umar to appear unfailingly by 2pm on Thursday.
But Justice Umar replied the committee that he has a
court sitting on Thursday and throughout the week.
He said he would not be available until after the court
sittings, which is on Saraki’s trial.
The invitation letter was delivered to the CCT chairman
shortly after he ruled that the tribunal will be sitting daily
from 9am to 6pm.
The committee said: “Your letter with reference number
CCT/HQ/ 126/S/ 111/ 515 dated 1st April, 2016 in
which you requested for more time to enable you attend
the hearing was received.
“After due consideration of your request, the Committee
rescheduled the hearing to give you at least two weeks
from the 4th of April when you should have appeared.
“Accordingly, you are now required to appear unfailingly
as follows: Thursday, 21st April, 2016, Meeting Room
120 New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex.
Time: 2pm
“Please, remember to come personally along with 12
copies of any written submission you may wish to
present.”
A source said: “The battle line is drawn between the
Senate and the CCT chairman. Some Senators are angry
over his decision to allow the tribunal to sit from 9am to
6pm.
“They saw the CCT Chairman’s decision as a plot to
deny Saraki any opportunity to preside over the Senate
plenary throughout his trial.
“Now, these Senators have also launched a counter-
attack against the CCT chairman by revisiting the
outstanding petition against the judge.
“Shortly after the CCT chairman decided to be sitting
daily till 6pm, a letter came from the Senate Committee
inviting Justice Umar on the outstanding petition against
him.”
But a source in CCT said: “The judge has asked the
Registrar of the tribunal to write the Senate committee
that he has a court sitting on Thursday and throughout
the week and won’t be able to honour the summons.
“The CCT Chairman’s letter was sent last night to the
committee.”

Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/sarakis-trial-senators-summon-tribunal-judge/

imagine? How low can the senate go?Posterity will judge the present bunch of senators . saraki will be a lesson to all over ambitious politicians

ok